Ironing machine



April ll, 1944. F. M. FREIS IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOI; /zedew'c/ M ff 6-6 BY I@ zum dimm, pw!) Apnl 11, 1944.

F. M. FREls 2,346,374

IRON ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29. 1941 1s sheets-*sheet 4 INVENT OR.

April 11, 1944. F. M. REIS 2,346,374

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1941 13 Sheets-Shea?I 5 fvg; w1 rag/gg@ April ll, 1944.

F. M. FREIS IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 1NvENToR. fw @demo/ZZ M f7* GLS April 11, 1944. F. M. FRE-ls 2,346,374

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 APli n, 19% F. M. FREls l IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug.f29, 1941 13 sheets-Shadi. a

F. M. FREls 2,346,374

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 I e?? if@ INVENTOR. Ff" eenLO/ Mfr' 605' BY l mu-Maw, lm r April 1l, 1944. F. M. FRI-:ls 2,346,374

.IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1941 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 April 11, 1944- F. M. FREls 2,346,374

IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2.9, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 1NvENTo1g Hedemlo/f Mfvew' am 1U April 11, 1944. F. M. PREIS 2,346,374

IRONING MACHINE `Filed Aug. 29, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR. ZedefL'C/Z M Patented' Apr. 11, 1944 IRON IN G MACHINE Frederick M. Freis, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Conlon Corporation, Cicero, Ill., a corporation 'of Illinois Application August 29, 1941, Serial No. 408,703 (Cl. 38-61) 22 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to ironing machines and has to do with machines intended fordomestic or home use.

My invention is directed to an ironing machine of the character stated which is of light weight, so as to be readily portable, and which is of compact construction, so as to occupy but little storage space. More specifically, I provide a machine comprising a roll mounted for rotationabout a fixed axis and a cooperating shoe movable to and from the roll, the latter housing a motor fordriving the roll and operating the shoe. The means providing driving and operating connections between the motorvand the roll and the shoe comprises but few parts, with a view to light weight and compact and inexpensive construction. Many parts of the machine are so constructed as to be readily formed from metal stampings, which further contributes to lightweight and reduced cost of production. The shoe operating means comprises means for holding the shoe to the vroll under spring pressure and means for retarding the initial movement of the shoe away from the roll in a mar.

ner to prevent objectionable shock or jar incident to such movement of the shoe. The shoe operating means further includes a member continuously driven `by the motor and an associated half revolution clutch for operating the shoe,

a roll control clutch being provided for clutching and declutching the roll to and from the continuously driven member, the latter clutch being automatically` actuated in accordance with movement of the shoe and means being provided for optionally .holding the roll clutch in declutched condition in the movements of the shoe to and from the roll, Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.l

In the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a front view of an ironing machine embodying `my invention;

`Figure Y2 `is a back View of the machine of VFigure 1 with the shoe cover removed;

Figure3` is an outer end view, on an enlarged scale, ofthe gear housing and shoe and associ'- ated parts, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 4 with the cover of the gear housing casingremoved and certain parts shown in section, certain otheriparts being broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3, certain parts being shown in` elevation and certain other parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a vertical axial sectional view, on a reduced scale, through the roll andthe adjacent portion of the gear housing, certain parts being shown in elevation and certain other parts being broken away;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 4;

' Figure 8 Vis a detail view of the roll clutch shift means and associated parts taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a detail view of the inner roll clutch member and associated clutch shifting means, the clutch member being shown in vertical section; i K

Figure 10 is a detail inner end view of the outer shoe operating clutch member;

Figure 11 is a detail outer face view of the back lash spring of the shoe operating clutch,

Figure 12 is an outer face view of the outer shoe operating clutch member, the arm carrying the latter member, the shoeoperating arm, thecontrol lever and associated parts, certain parts being broken away and certain other parts being shown in section, this view takensubstantially on line |2-l2 of Figure 13; l

i Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on` line |3-l3 of Figure 12, certain parts being shown in elevation; i x

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view` of theshoe clutch and the associated supporting `arm for the outer` member of such clutch, showing the relation between the parts when the shoe operating arm is in lowered position and the 'relation of the parts when the back lash spring becomes effective in the upward movement of the shoe operating arm; 4

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic viewon the order of Figure 14 but-showing the relation of the parts immediately after the shoe operating arm has been moved into its lowered position;

Figure 16 is a .diagrammatic view similar to Figure l5 but with the shoe operating,` arm in its raised or upper position; i l

Figure 17 is a vertical axial sectional view through the roll of a modified form of machine embodying my invention, showing the adjacent portion of the gear housing fragmentarily and in elevation, certain other parts being shown in elevation and certain parts beingbroken away;

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken substantially on line |8-I8 of Figure 19;

Figure 19`is a sectional view taken substantially on line l9`|9 of Figure 20, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2li-20 of Figure 19, certain parts being broken away:

Figure 21 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 2|-2l of Figure 19 with certain parts broken away and in section;

Figure 22 is a vertical sectional view through the shoe shaft operating clutch and associated parts, the gear housing and the cover therefor being shown fragmentarily and in section, and certain parts being shown in elevation, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 23 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the inner roll clutch member and associated parts, on an enlarged scale, certain parts being broken away:

Figure 24 is a detail elevational View of the inner roll clutch member;

Figure 25 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the-outer roll clutch member, partly broken away and in section;

Figure 26 is a detail outer face view of the control lever and the outer shoe arm operating clutch member and associated parts, the control lever being broken away and the gear housing cover being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 26A is a sectional view taken substantially on line 26A-25A of Figure 26;

Figure 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 21-21 of Figure 21, certain parts being shown in elevation; and

Figures 28 to 31, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the shoe operating clutch and associated parts.

The ironing machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a base 40 conveniently formed of sheet metal and rectangular in plan and provided with rubber bumpers 4|, a gear housing bolted or otherwise suitably secured to base 40 adjacent one end thereof and extending upward therefrom, a roll 43 extending from gear housing 42 inward over base 40, and a shoe 44 mounted in back of rol1'43 cooperating therewith and movable to and from the roll. Roll 43 comprises an inner cylinder 45, conveniently formed of sheet metal, and a pad 46 mounted upon cylinder 45 in a known manner. A cup disc 41 (Figure 5) is secured within cylinder 45, conveniently by spot welding,

at about the mid-length thereof. Disc 41 is provided with a central opening in which is suitably secured a flanged bushing 48 disposed coaxially with cylinder 45, this bushing receiving a stud 49 secured toa plate 50 of a roll supporting bracket 5l. This bracket 5I comprises arms 52 of elongated U-sliape spot welded at their inner ends to plate 50. The arms 52 are suitably braced at their outer ends and are there secured to an inner side of head 53 of gear housing 42, in spaced relation to the inner side wallof head 53, by means of screw studs 54 secured in the latter wall and passing through the outer ends of arms-52, spacof head 53 of the gear housing 42. An internal ring gear is secured to disc 58 in any suitable manner, conveniently by riveting, in concentric relation to cylinder 45, disc 58 being provided with a central opening accommodating studs 54 and spacers 55, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Supporting and guide rollers 6|, mounted on headed pins 62 suitably secured in the inner side wall of gear housing head 53, contact the outer circumferential face of ring gear 60 and rotatably support the latter coaxially with lcylinder 45 while restraining both ring gear 50 and cylinder 45 against transverse movement. As will be seen more clearly from Figure 4, ring gear 60 is confined axially between the inner side wall of head 53 and the outer ends of bracket arms 52, the latter being` Roll 43 houses an electric motor 63 of suitable vtype provided at its outer end with a reduced neck 64, the latterhaving at its outer end a suitably formed head 55 (Figure 6) suitably secured to the inner side wall of head 53 of gear housing 42. conveniently by means of bolts 66. Shaft 51 of motor 63 extends into gear housing head 53, through an opening 68 therein aligned with the bore of neck 64, as Will be clear from Figure 4.

Motor shaft 51 is provided at its inner end with a helical pinion 69 secured thereon, conveniently formed integrally with shaft 61, which pinion 69 meshes with a helical gear 10 secured on a shaft 1| rotatably mounted in the inner side wall of gear housing head 53 and in a cover 12 removably secured to the outer side of head 53, conveniently bymeans of screws. Shaft 1I is provided. adjacent cover 12, with a spur pinion 13 secured thereon, conveniently formed integrally therewith, meshed with a spur gear 14 secured on the inner end of a, stub shaft 15 rotatably mounted through a boss 15 of cover 12. head 11 is secured upon the outer end of stub shaft 15 in contact with the outer end of boss 15, gear 14 and head 11 cooperating -with boss 15 to confine stub shaft 15 against'endwise movement through boss 16. It will be seen that when the motor 83 is in operation gear 14 and with it stubshaft 15 and head 11 are continuously driven inwardly projecting diametrically opposite clutch pins 18 equidistant from the axis of this gear. A counter shaft 19, parallel with shaft 1I and with motor shaft 61, is rotatably mounted' through a boss 80 on the inner side wall of gear housing head 53, coaxially with stub shaft 15, and

ers 55being disposed about studs 54 between r arm 52v and the inner wall of gear housing head 53, nuts 56 being threaded on the studs 54 for securing arms 52, with intervening spring washers 51. The roll 43 is thus mounted by means oi bracket 5I and associated parts, on the gear housing extending therefrom inward over the base 45 and for rotation about stud 49 at the inner end of bracket 5|.

A cupped sheet metal disc 58 is secured, by means of screws 59, in cylinder 45 between the is reduced at its inner end to provide a stud 8| piloted in a bushing 82 mounted in a corresponding bore in the inner end of stub shaft 15. A

' spur pinion 83 is secured on the outer end of outer end of bracket 5I and the inner Side Wall 75 countershaft 19 and meshes with the spur internal ring 50. The gear 14 and pin 18 thereof constitute an outer roll clutch member which cooperates with an inner roll clutch member 84 slid- 'I able on countershaft 19 and yieldingly urged tir--I A two-armed .will be explained more fully presently.

at the inner face of a washer 81 seating against the inner end of boss 80. The key 88 cooperates 81, boss 80 and pinion 83 for conlining shaft 19 against endwise movement in either direction, as will be clear from Figure .4.

In the use of the-ironing machine, roll 43 is rotated downward and rearward for moving the articles being ironed between the roll and shoe 44, as is known, which means that the gear 14 is rotated clockwise as viewed from its outer face as in Figure 7. The inner roll clutch member 84 comprises two discs 88 and 89, conveniently in the form of steel stampings, secured together in spaced relation by pins or spacers 90. The outer disc 89 has four clutch fingers 9| struck therefrom and bent outwardly, as will be clear from Figures 4 and 7, these fingers being disposed for contact by the pins 18 of gear 14. A pin 92 is secured through countershaft 19 and passes between the pins 90 for contact with two diametrically opposite pins, as shown in Figure 9. When clutch member 84 is in its operative or clutching position, shown in Figure 4, pins 18 of gear 14 contact the two diametrically opposite fingers 9| of disc 89 thus driving clutch member 84 clockwise with gear 14. The two diametrically opposite spacers 90 are thus brought into contact with pin 92, adjacent the ends thereof, thus driving countershaft 19 and thereby driving roll 43 from gear 14.

Means is provided for shifting clutch member 84 into and out of cooperating relation to the pins 18 of gear 14. A shift rod 93 extends from front to back of the gear housing head 53 above and perpendicular to shaft 1|, this rod passing through the back of head 53 and being there provided with a depending arm 94 disposed at right angles to rod 93. At its forward end rod 93 is rockably mounted in a boss 95 of head 53 and any suitable known means is provided for confining rod 93 against lengthwise movement. An inverted U-shaped yoke member 96 is secured through rod 93, with its arms extending downward therefrom and disposed to contact the outer face of disc 88, adjacent the sides thereof, in position to clear the ends of pin 92. Arm 94 of shift rod 93 is disposed to be contacted by inner arms 91 of a Z-shaped lever 98 rockabiy mounted in a clip 99 secured on the outer face of cover 12 at the rearward portion thereof. Outer arm |99 of lever 98 extends through a slot |0| in a shoe operating arm |02, connected to the shoe 44 for moving the latter to and from roll 43, as When to roll 43 into cooperwith washer shoe 44 has been moved ating relation therewith, shoe operating arm |02 occupies its lowered position shown in Figure 3, at which time arm 91 o1' lever 98 extends upward at an inclination and arm 94 of rod 93 is disposed at a downward and outward inclination, as shown in Figure 8. The inner roll clutch member 84 is then held in its outer position shown in Figure 4, by the compression spring 85, thus clutching the roll 43 to gear 14 to be d'riven thereby. When shoe operating arm |02 is turned clockwise, from its lowered position shown in Figure 8 Vinto its upper or raised position for moving the shoe away from the roll, as will be more fully explained presently, lever 98 is turned clockwise, as viewed inFigure 8, by contact of shoe operating lever |02 at the lower side of slot |0I with arm |00, thus swinging arm 91 downward in contact with arm 94 and swinging the latter arm inward, the parts referred to then occupying the positions indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8. That turns the shift rod 93 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, thus moving the inner roll clutch member 84 away from gear 14 into its inoperative or declutching position, stopping drive of the roll. When the shoe operating arm |02 is again moved into its lowered position, moving the shoe into cooperating relation to the roll, clutch member 04 is moved outward into clutching position, reestablishing the drive between gear 14 and the roll. It will thus be seen that the roll 43 is clutched to and declutched from the motor 83 responsive to movement of the shoe 44 to and from the roll, automatically stopping drive of the roll when the shoe is moved rearward out of cooperating relation to the roll and causing driving of the roll when the shoe is moved forward into cooperating relation thereto. When it is desired to maintain the roll declutched from the motor, as when using the machine shift rod 93 may be held in position to maintain inner roll clutch member 84 in its disengaged or declutched position. For that purpose a declutchirig rod |03 is slidably'mounted through bosses |04 extending from the outer face of cover 12. Rod |03 extends forwardly through a sheet metal casing |05 suitably secured to and enclosing gear housing 42, and is provided at its forward end with an operating button |08 suitably secured thereon. At its rearward end rod |03 is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined arm |01 bent to provide a terminal finger |08 slidable through an angle bracket |09 secured to gear housing 42 adjacent the rearward portion of head 53 thereof. When rod |03 is in its rearward position, shown in full lines in Figure V3, arm |01 thereof is disposed to clear armA 94 of shift rod 93 and the roll clutch may then be operated automatically in the manner previously described. By pulling rod |03 forwardly into its dotted line position indicated in Figure 3, arm 94 of shift rod 93, if the latter is in its position shown in full lines in Figure 8, may be forced rearwardly into its dotted line position shown in that figure, in which latter position it will then be retained by the lower end portion of arm 01 and finger |08, independently of the movement of lever 98 responsive to raising and lowering of the shoe operating arm 02. Alternatively, if the lever operating arm |02 is in its lowered position shown in Figure 3, it may be moved into its upper or raised position so as to move arm 94 of clutch shift rod 93 into its inner dotted line position shown in Figure 8, after which the declutching rod |03 may be pulled forwardly for maintaining arm 94 in its rearward position. That provides simple and eicient means whereby the roll clutch may be automatic-ally controlled by the shoe operating arm I 02, or, if desired, may be maintained in `its inoperative or declutched position, without interfering with operation of the means for moving the shoe to and from the roll.

IShoe operating arm |02 is mounted at its rearward end on the outer end of a tubular shoe shaft H0 rockably mounted in a sleeve lli formed integrally with the gear housing 42, shaft ||0 being confined against endwise movement by stop collars 2 and 3 suitably secured thereon and contacting the ends of sleeve A flanged hub H4, shown in Figures 2 and 3, is secured on the outer end portion of shaft ||0 and arm 02 is secured to flange ||5 of hub I4 for pressing,

in a suitable manner, conveniently by means of a screw H6. It will be seen that when shoe operating arm |02 is swung upward about the axis of shaft ||0, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, shaft is turned clockwise for moving shoe 44 rearward away from roll 43, and when arm |02 is swung downward into its lowered position shown in Figure 3 shaft |02 is turned counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, for moving the shoe to the roll into cooperating relation thereto.

Shoe operating arm |02 is provided, in its forward portion, with a lengthwise slot ||1 which receives a roller ||8 carried by a headed pin H8, shown more clearly in Figures 12 and 13, secured in a disc |20 at the outer end of an outer shoe operating member |2|. The latter member |2I is rotatably mounted in a flanged bushing |22 secured in a supporting arm |23 pivotally mounted at its upper end, by means of a cap screw |24 (Figure 4) threading into a boss |25 projecting' from the outer face of cover 12. Arm |23 extends downward and forward beyond member |2| and is provided, at its lower end, with a lengthwise slot |26 which receives a headed pin |21 secured in the outer arm of a U-shaped control lever |28 pivoted on a pin |29 secured to gear housing 42, at the lower forward portion thereof, lever |28 being confined between the gear housing and a cotter pin or other suitable stop member secured through pin |29 adjacent the outer end thereof. An'operating handle, comprising a knob |3| and a shank |32 extending therefrom, is secured to one arm of lever |28, conveniently by spot welding shank |32 thereto. The inner arm of lever |28 is provided with two upper cam surfaces |33 and |34 (Figures 3 and 12) for contact with a multiple leaf spring |35 secured to an angle bracket |36 pivoted at its upper end, as by means of a screw |31, to cover 12 at the outer face thereof. A pressure screw |38, threaded through a boss |39 extending from the outer face of cover 12, bears against flange |40 of bracket |36 for adjusting the pressure of spring |35 on the cam surface |33 or |34, as-the case may be. When the, control lever |28 is in its position shown in Figure 3, spring |35 bears upon cam surface |34 and maintains lever |38 in such position. When knob |3| is moved from its lowered position shown in Figure 3 into its upper position (not shown), control lever |28 is turned clockwise into a position in which spring |35 bears upon cam surface |33, thus holding the control lever in its latter position. It will be apparent that, by means of the control lever |28, the supporting arm |23 may be turned a predetermined distance in opposite directions about cap screw |24.

Head 11 (Figures 3 and 4) is provided with two outwardly extending headed pins |4|, disposed at opposite sides of and equidistant from the axis of stub shaft 15, each of these pins carrying aroller |42. The outer roll'operating member |2| is disposed with its inner end adjacent the outer face of head 11, as shown more clearly in Figure 4, and is provided at its inner end with a diametrical slot which receives a key |43'of rectangular cross section, the outer end portion of which may be bevelled on opposite sides as shown. The slot in member |2| also receives shank |44a of what I term a back lash leaf spring |44, shaped as shown in Figure 11, the body portion of this spring being bent or offset slightly inwardly relative to shank |44a, at |45 and as shown more clearly in Figure 13. The outer or free end of spring |44 is shaped to provide a hook element |46, the leading edge of which substantially conforms in curvature to the circumference of the rollers |42. A screw |41, having a head seating in a recess in the disc |20, passes through shank |44a of spring |44 and through a spacer |48 disposed between shank |44a and key |43, this screw threading into key |43 and serving to secure the latter in member |2| while also clamping the shank of key |44 and the spacer |48 in position between key |43 and the bottom or outer wall of the slot in 4member |2|. Head 11 rotates about a fixed axis and supporting arm |23 may be adjusted by control lever |28 so as to dispose the axis of rotation of member |2| eccentric to and alternately at opposite sides of the axis of head 11. Key |43 extends inwardly into the plane of rotation of pins |4| and rollers |42 and projects to one side of member |2| such a distance that, when member |2| is moved from one position of eccentricity to the other, one of the pins will pick up key |43 and turn it through approximately one-half of a revolution and then pass out of contact with the key, the latter being then disposed to clear the pins |4| and rollers |42 in the continued rotation of head 11. This operation will be understood more clearly from the diagrammatic views of Figures 14 to 16, inclusive. When the shoe operating arm |02 is in its lowered position shown in Figure 3, with the shoe 44 in cooperating relation to roll 43, the axis a of member |2| is disposed in front of and slightly above axis b of head 11, as shown in Figure 15. The annular space defined by the two concentric circles c and d correspond to the path of travel of rollers |42, key |43 being then disposed to clear the rollers in the continued rotation thereof. In order to swing the shoe operating arm |02 upward, control lever |28 is turned clockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, into its other position, thus shifting the axis a of member |2| from' its position shown in Figure 15 to its position shown in Figure 14, in back of and slightly below axis b of head 11. That projects key |43 into the path of travel of the pins |4| and rollers |42, so that .one of the rollers contacts key |43 and turns it a half revolution into the full line position shown in Figure 16, the key |43 being then disposed to clear therollers and the pins which continue rotating. In Figure 16, key |43 is shown in dotted lines in the same position as in Figure 14 and the semi-circular path described by the outer end of key |43, during its travel from its dotted line position shown in Figure 16 to its full line position there shown, is indicated by the dot and dash line f. If arm |23 be now moved into its position shown in Figure 15, with key |43 remaining in its dotted line position shown in this gure, key |43 will be picked up by one ofthe rollers |42 and turned to its full line position shown in Figure 15, the outer end of the key describing the semi-circular path indicated by the dot and dash line f1. Head 11 and member |2| and associated parts thus provide a half revolution clutch for turning member |2| and disc |20 thereof .intermittently through approximately one-half of a revolution, responsive to shifting of the axis of member |2| from a position at one side of the axis of head 11 to a position at the opposite side of the latter axis. Turning of disc center with pin I9 and disc |20 which, in conjunction with the slight friction between the parts, effectively holds the shoe operating arm 02 in its adjusted position.

Shoe shaft extends inwardly above base 40 to about' the mid-length of the shoe 44. A coupling arm |50 is secured on the inner end of shaft ||0 and extends rearwardly therefrom, this arm being slotted from its rearward end. A shoe supporting arm comprising two plates |52 (Fig` ure 2), is loosely mounted on shaft ||0 and straddles arm |50. At their rearward lower portions the plates |52 are secured. together by a spacer |53 and a block |54, disposed between plates |52, is pivotally mounted therein below coupling arm |50, by means of associated studs |55. Adjacent their upper ends plates |52 are secured together by a U-shaped bridge member |58, the arms of which are spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to plates |52. Bridge member |56 carries arearwardly opening spring clip |51 o1' known type, secured thereto in a suitable manner and disposed to lreceive the upper portion of a release rod |58 provided at its upper end with a knob |59. The lower portion'of rod |58 is threaded and screws through block |54. A thimble |60 is loosely mounted on rod |58 for movement lengthwise thereof, downward movement of this thimble being limited by a pin |6| secured through rod |58 and disposed within a recess |62 extending from the lower end of thimble |60. At its upper end, thimble |60 is recessed to provide a seat for the lower end of a coil compression spring |63, disposed about rod |58 and confined between thimble |60 and an inverted cup member |64 mounted on rod |58 and confined against upward movement thereon, by a pin |65 secured through the rod. The lower portion of thimble |60 is rounded as shown in Figure 3, to facilitate movement thereof onto the upper face of-arm |50 when rod |58 is swung forwardly into its coupling position shown in Figure 3, in which position of Atherod spring |63 is under compression.

The shoe 44 is of known type and is -provided with a sheet metal cover |66, providing with the shoe a housing for enclosing the heating elements and associated parts. A channel clamping bar |61 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the back of shoe 44 at the mid-portion thereof and has secured thereto, by welding or in any other suitable manner, two spaced ears |68. Al

pin |69 extends through the upper forward portions of plates |52 and through ears |68, providing a pivotal connection between shoe 44 and shoe supporting arm |5|, to which arm the shoe is thus connected for movement therewith to and from the roll 43.- A coil tension spring is attached at its upper end to pin |69, conveniently by being hooked thereover, the lower end of this spring being hooked through a web element |1| formed integrally with the coupling arm |50. Since the line of pull of spring |10 is in back of shaft 0, this spring tends to swing the shoe supporting arm' |5| rearward and downward, assuringproper contact of thimble |60 with coupling arm 50, when rod |58 is swung forward into coupling position. Normally, rod |58 remains in its coupling position shown in Figure 3, thus coupling shoe supporting arm |5| to shaft H0 for movement therewith. When shoe operating arm |02 is swung upward, the shoe supporting arm |5| is moved downward and rearward so as to move shoe 4 4 away from roll 43, and, when arm |02 is swung downward, shoe supporting arm 5| is swung forward moving the shoe to the roll into cooperating relation therewith, and spring |63 is placed under compression holding the shoe to the roll under spring pressure. In o rder quickly to release the shoe from the roll, rod |58 is moved rearwardly so as to disengage thimble |60 from arm |50, spacer |53 limiting this rearward movement of rod |58. When the release rod |58v has been thus disengaged from arm I 58, tension spring |10 swings shoe supporting arm I 5| rearward and downward moving the shoe away from the roll. It will be understood that spring |63 is considerably heavier than tension spring |10 and that the latter does not objectionably interfere with spring `|10 is under tension when shoe 44 is in kcooperating relation to roll arm |02 tends to cause the shoe coupling member |2| to overrun head 11, during the initial movement of the shoe away from the roll and after the disc |20 has been turned a short distance so as to move roller ||8 out of dead center position. Ihat would cause more or less abrupt movement of the lshoe away from the roll with resulting objectionable shock or jar. In order to prevent that. I provide means for retarding rotation of member |2| during movement of the shoe away from the roll. The means referred to is shown more clearly in Figures 3, 14, and 15. Supporting arm |23 is provided with an inwardly extending flange providing a cam element |12, suitably disposed and formed for travel therealong of the free portion of backlash spring |44. This spring normally is disposed out of the plane of rotation of the rollers |42 carried by head 11 and in no wise interferes with the cooperation between rollers |42 and key |43 in the manner previously described. When the shoe supporting arm |02 is in its lowered position, with the shoe 44 in cooperating relation to the roll 43, as shown in Figure 3, key |43 occupies the position shown in full lines in Figure 14. With key |43 in that position, and supporting arm |23 in its dotted line position of Figure 14, one of the rollers |42 will pick up key |43 and turn it through approximately one-half ot a revolution,

as previously described. Whe/n disc |20 has been turned a short distance, moving roller ||8 beyond its dead center position, rotation of disc |20 and member |2| is accelerated by the reaction of the springs |63 and |10 previously noted. As a result, member |2| overruns head 11 for a short distance, at which time back lash spring |44 comes into contact with cam element |12 and is deected thereby into the plane of'rotation of rollers |42, hook portion |46 picking up the other of these two rollers. When that occurs, head 11 is driven by member |2|, so that the motor |63 is driven by member |2| through the gear train. This, in commotion with the braking effect exerted by cam element |12, retards or slows down the member |2I, without any objectionable shock or jar, after which the key |43 is again picked up by the roller I 42 which ilrst contacted this key and is moved thereby into its full `line position shown in Figure`16. completing movement of the shoe away from the roll.l In Figure 14, the key 43, shoe operating and the backlash spring |44 are shown in dotted lines in the positions which they occupy when member |2| has overrun head 11 suiciently to cause hook |46 to pick up one of the rollers |42,

spring |44 then being in contact with cam element |12 as explained. When the key |43 reaches its full line position shown in Figure 16, the back lash spring |44 is clear of cam element |12 and out of the plane of rotation of rollers |42. In the movement oi' key |43 from its full line position shown in Figure 16 to its full line position shown in Figure 15, for moving the shoe to the roll, the back 1ash spring |44 is clear ci cam element |12. From what has been said, it will be understood that the shoe supporting arm |5| moves about the axis of shoe shaft ||0, as indicated in Figures 15 and 16, in which the dot and dash line a may be taken as a line passing through the axis of shaft and the axis of pin |69, line g occupying the position shown in Figure 15 when the shoe is in cooperating relation to the roll and occupying the position shown ln Figure 16 when the shoe has been moved away from the roll.

As previously stated, the shoe 44 is of known construction and preferably heated by electrical resistance elements having an associated thermostat |13 (Figure 2), to which and the resistance element or elements, as the case may be, current is supplied by means of a suitable cord or cable |14 led through the tubular shaft ||0 at a point within the sheet metal casing |05. The latter is provided with a flanged removable cover plate |15 and provides al housing for the outer end portion of shaft ||0 and associated parts, as well as for the parts disposed at the outer face of cover 12 of head 53 of the gear housing. A suitable switch |16 (Figure 4) is disposed within casing and the latter is also provided with a translucent panel or bulls-eye |11, conveniently illuminated by a lamp (not shown) disposed within casing |05, for indicating when the circuit is closed. It will be understood that appropriate electrical connections are provided between the cord or cable |14, the switch |16. electric motor 63 and a condenser |18 associated therewith disposed within roll 43 and mounted in anylsuitable manner on bracket 5|. Conveniently the cable or cord |14 is provided at its free end with a plug cap |19 of known type, or any other suitable means may be provided for connecting the cable to a source of electric current. A single switch |16 may be provided for controlling supply of current to both the motr and the heating elements` of the shoe, or, if desired, separate switches may be provided for that purpose, as will be understood.

The machine shown in Figures 17 to 31, inclusive, is in general similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 16, inclusive. It comprises a base |80 rectangular in plan, a gear housing |8| suitably secured to base |80 at one end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom, a roll |82 extending from gear housing |8| inwardly over the base and a shoe |83 movable to and from roll |82 into and out of cooperating relation thereto. Roll |82 comprises a sheet metal cylinder |84 and a suitable pad |85 mounted thereon in a known manner. A flanged ring |86 is secured in the inner end of' cylinder |84, conveniently by spot welding, and hassecured thereto. ascreen;V disc |81. A flanged disc. 881ssecured in cylinder |84'at the mid-portion thereof, conveniently by spot welding, and receives a coaxial flanged bushing |89 suitably secured therein. Bushing |89 receives a stud secured in a spider I9| of channel cross section at the inner end of a roll supporting bracket |92. Bracket |92 comprises a substantially cylindrical body |93 formed of lsheet metal, in the inner end of which the spider |9| is secured, conveniently by spot welding. The outer end of body |93 is secured, conveniently by spot welding, in a cupped sheet metal disc |94. An electric motor |95 of suitable type is disposed within bracket |92, the latter having a suitable opening |96 for introduction of the motor. The latter is provided at its outer end with a suitably shaped head |91 (Figures 17 and 18) suitably secured, as by screws |98., to an appropriately formed boss |99 extending from the inner side wall of gear housing |8|. Motor |95 is further provided, at its outer end, with a concentric collar 209 extending into a corresponding recess at the center of boss |99, this collar also passing through a central opening in disc |94, the body portion of this disc being clamped between head |91 and boss |99. An internal ring gear 20|, provided with a' plurality of outwardly extending radial lugs, as shown in Figure 26, is secured in the outer end of cylinder |84 in concentric relation therewith by screws 202. A plurality oi rollers 203, mounted on pins 204 secured in ring gear 20|, bear upon the circumferential surface of portion 205 of the flange of the cupped disc |94, the latter having a shoulder 206 inclined outward radially of disc |94, the outer end of which shoulder is substantially in the plane of the inner ends of the rollers 203. Bracket |92 and associated parts and the ring gear 20| and rollers 203 cooperate for supporting roll |82 for rotation about a fixed axis and confining it against transverse movement, the spider |9| and disc |88 cooperating with the shoulder 206 and the rollers 203 to conne roll |82 against endwlse movement.

Shaft 201-of motor |95 extends through boss |99 into head 208 of gear housing 8|. A helical pinion 209 is secured on the inner end of motor shaft 201, conveniently formed integrally therewith, and meshes with a helical gear 2|0 secured on a shaft 2| rotatably mounted in the inner side wall of gear housing 208 and in a removable cover 2 |2 therefor secured to head 208 by means of screws or in any other suitable manner. A spur pinion 2|3 is secured on shaft 2| I, conveniently formed integrally therewith, meshes with a spur gear 2|4 having a hub 2|6 mounted on and free from a countershaft 2|6 rotatably mounted through a boss 2|1 formed on the inner side wall of the gear housing 208. A spur pinion 2| 8, secured on the -outer end of countershaft 2|6, meshes with ring gear 20| for driving the roll |82. An inner roll clutch member 2| 9, conveniently in the form of a steel stamping, is secured onthe inner end of countershaft 2|6 and is formed to provide four equally spaced clutch teeth 220, shown more clearly in Figure 20. Inner clutch member 2|9 cooperates with an outer clutch member 22|, comprising a stub shaft 222 slidable through coverl 2|2 and disposed coaxially with countershaft 2|6, and a disc 223, conveniently in the form of a steel stamping, secured to the inner end of stub shaft 222 and having struck therefrom two diametrically opposite clutch teeth 224 equidistant from stub shaft 222. Two shouldered pins 226 are secured to disc 223 and project inwardly therefrom, at'opposite sides of and equidistant from stub shaft 222, the ,reduced inner end portions of pins 225 being slidable axially in corresponding bores in gear 2|4. Hub 2|5 of gear 2 I4 is conand fined between the inner roll/ clutch member 2i9 and an arm 226 pivoted at its upper end on countei-shaft Zi, this arm and hub 215 cooperating with clutch member 2li! and boss 2|'I and pinion i3 for confining countershaft 2|6 against lengthwise movement in either direction. Gear 2|4vis rotated clockwise as viewed in Figure 20, and is continuously driven from motor |95 when the latter is in operation, as will be clear from Figure the outer roll clutch member 22| also being continuously' driven clockwise with gear 2|4. In the inner position of clutch member 22|, shown in Figure 27, clutch teeth 224 thereof engage two tceth 22B of clutch member 2|9 thus driving the countershaft 2|6 and thereby driving the roll |82. By moving the clutch member 22| outward into its inoperative or declutching position, in which teeth 224 will not engage with the teeth of clutch member 2 I 9, the roll is declutched from the motor and is no longer driven thereby.

Stub shaft 222 is provided at its outer end with an outwardly flaring frusto-conical head 228. A leaf spring 229, shown more clearly in Figure 2l, is secured to the outer face of cover 2|2 at one end and has its free end bearing on the outer end of head 228 so as to urge clutch member 22| inward into operative or clutched position. A clutch control lever 230 is pivotally mounted at its rearward end, by a cap screw 23|, on a boss 232 formed on the outer face of cover 2|2, with an interveningspring washer 233 providing friction means for holding the lever 23D in adjustment. A knob 234 is secured on the forward end of lever 230 for convenience in operating it, and this lever is provided with a depending arm 235 having an upwardly tapering slot 236 concentric with the pivot axis 230. Slot 236 receives head 228 of stub shaft 222. in the upper position of lever 230, shown in Figure 21, head 228 is at the lower or large end of slot 236 and passes freely therethrough, thus permitting movement of the clutch member 22| inward into clutched position, under the influence of spring 229.' By swinging lever 230 downward, the upwardly converging edges of arm 235 defining the slot 236 are brought into contact with the inwardly converging or tapering head 228 of stub shaft 222, thus forcing this shaft outward in opposition to spring 229'until lever 230 reaches its lowermost position, at which time clutch member 22| has been moved outward into its inoperative or in which position it is held'by arm 235. The re- `turn of lever 230 to its raised position releases head 228 and permits return of clutch member 22|, under the iniiuence of spring 229, to its inner or clutched position.

Head 228 also passes through a downwardly tapering slot 231, in a finger 238 extending upward from the forward end of a shoe operating arm 239 mounted at its rearward end on a tubular shoe shaft 24U. The shaft 240 is rockably mounted through a bearing sleeve 24| formed integrally with the gear housing structure I 8|, there being a stop collar 242 secured on shaft 240 at the inner end of sleeve 24|. A hub member 243 is secured on the shaft 240, at the outer end of sleeve 24|, and cooperates with the latter and with collar V242 for confining shoe shaft 240 against endwise movement in either direction. Hub member 243 is provided with an integral ange 244, shown more clearly in Figure 21, to which arm 239 is secured, conveniently by means of a screw 245. Suitable means is provided for swinging arm 239 upward declutched position,

of cover 2|2 and downward, about the axis of shoe shaft 24B, which means will be described presently, and the shoe is connected to shaft Zilli, by means to be described, to moved thereby to and from the roll by rocking of shaft Edil in oppositeO directions responsive to movement of arm 239. When the shoe is in cooperating relation to roll |82, as shown in Figure 2l, shoe operating arm 239 is in its lowered position there shown. At that time the upper wider end of slot 231 tioned about head 228 on stub shaft 222 and.. assuming the clutch control lever 230 -to be in its raised position shown in Figure 21, clutch member 22| is heldin its inner operative or clutched position shown in Figure 19 by spring 229. Upon upward movement of arm 239, shaft- 24o is turned in clockwise direction. as viewed in Figure 2l, moving shoe |83 away from roll |82, such upward movement of arm 239 causing corresponding upward movement of iinger 238 thereof with resulting contact of thev downwardly converging edges thereof defining slot 237 with head 228, thus forcing clutch member 22| outward into its inoperative or declutched position. That provides means whereby the roll |82 is automatically clutched to and declutched from the motor responsive to movement of shoe |83 to and from the roll. Under normal conditions, when the machine is used for ironing. the clutch lever 230 remains in its raised position shown in Figure 21 and the roll |82 is automatically thrown into and out of operation in accordance with movement of the shoe to and from the roll. When it is desired to have the roll remain stationary during operation of the shoe, as when the machine is used for pressing, lever 23B is moved into its lowered position for holding clutch member 22| in its outer declutched positiomin the manner above described. The adjacent end portions of the arm 235 and finger 23B are disposed in superposed relation, as shown in Figures 2l and 35, and the forward portions thereof operate between a boss 246 extending from the outer face and a washer 241 mounted about a cap screw 248 threaded into boss 246, there being a spacer 249 between boss 246 and washer 241. Arm 235 and finger 238 are thus guided and held against bending cr flexing in the operation thereof for effecting desired adjustment of the clutch member 22|.

Arm 226 is of generally triangular shape and is pivoted at its upper corner on countershaft 2|6 for swinging movement thereabout, as shown in Figures 19 and 21. A cylindrical stud 250 is secured in arm 22B adjacent the lower rearward corner thereof, as shown more clearly in Figure 30. Spur gear 25| is rotatably mounted on stud 250 in mesh with spur gear 2|4 and is thus continuously driven from the motor |95 when the latter is in operation. Two headed pins 252 are secured in gear 25| at opposite sides of and equidistant from the axis thereof and project outward therefrom. Gear 25| in conjunction with the pins 252 constitutes an inner shoe clutch member. An outer shoe clutch member 253 is rotatably mounted in a collar 254 of cover 2 l2, with its inner end adjacent the outer side of gear 25|. Member 252 is provided in its inner end with a diametrical slot in which is\ mounted a clutch key 254 of rectangular cross section disposed in the plane of rotation of the heads of pins 252. At its outer end member 253 is provided with a recess 255 which receives the head of a screw 256 passing axially therethrough, said screw also passing through is posi- 

